January 30, 2014

After a 13-day makeover, first US Airways plane repainted as American debuts

US Airways aircraft being repainted. (Photo courtesy of American Airlines)

With its new coat of paint, the first US Airways aircraft to get the American Airlines livery debuted on Thursday.

The plane, tail number N700UW, spent 13 days getting its new look. The Airbus 319 was sanded, washed and had 80 gallons of paint applied to the exterior.

"Today marks an important next step in our airlines' integration and is a tangible way for customers and employees to see the result of our progress first hand," said American president Scott Kirby. "The integration of our airlines, including painting the rest of the US Airways fleet, will take many months as we work to deliver value through this merger for our employees, our customers and our investors."

The same aircraft after its paint job was finished. (Photo courtesy of American Airlines)

About 640 aircraft will be repainted with the new livery which includes the flag tail that employees voted to keep in January.

By the middle of the year, American expects to have more than 275 mainline and regional aircraft painted with the new design.